Marshall and his Stout-hearted family

This is Marshall Stout.  He is my nephew and was born about three months early.  He weighed only 14 ounces when he was born, yet he is Stout-hearted.  Remember how I went in the the hospital on the same day as my sister?  This little guy was born two days later.  I have so much going on in my mind and heart, but if I had to put all of the things I would like to write, and squeeze it into one sentence, I would say:

True happiness is my family, and the littlest things bring my greatest joy.  

If you didn't know, Marshall writes his own emails.  Here are some of my favorite quotes from him.

"Three days old and I'm already sending emails!  
My dear family,
I haven't met most of you yet, but you've kept me alive. Your prayers have given me strength and determination to keep fighting. And I know your prayers have helped my parents too (they've got all sorts of emotions going, but they're hanging there)."

"I had [dad] pick me up in his big hands so that grandma could take some pictures. It was fun being lifted up so high!  Dad kept worrying he was going to hurt me, but I just thought, "Hey, I'm Stout-hearted. I can handle it!" I don't think he got the message."

"If possible, I like to relax and sleep. They say it'll help me develop and be kinder to my body, but I do it so I can stay close to heavenly father and let the angels do their work."

"Santa came and visited me last night, but no one told me it was him and I thought I was getting a new doctor! It's probably a good thing he's not my doctor though - I think his beard might get sucked into my ventilator."

"I bet you're surprised I know the word lethargy. Well, anyone with access to the internet and a good spell-checker can seam smart these days (whoops, I mean 'seem')."

"...my right eye is getting close to opening (I try really hard to open my eyes when I hear my mommy's voice. My daddy is always telling me how beautiful she is, but I want to see her myself!)."

 "The doctor said that he could see my lungs beginning to develop for the first time today. He said, "I don't know how he was breathing for the first five days." Well, I know how. That's why I'm thankful for angels. Sometimes you can't do things for yourself, like preach the Gospel or breath air, and that's when He sends the angels."

"I am especially thankful for my mommy and that she got to go home for Christmas today. She had a rough time in here, but she's too tough to stay sick. She walked out of the hospital herself today, but not before visiting me for a long time. I am thankful for my mommy."

I am also thankful for Marshall's mommy, my sister.  I am thankful for her and her husband.  They are both an example of faith and optimism.  They love each other so much, and they love their little boy.

For the full blogs and letters by Marshall and my sister Mandy, feel free to visit
 http://stout-heart.blogspot.com.  You might think about the small and simple miracles in your own life.  Please also feel free to pray for Marshall, even if you don't know him.  Every prayer is a two-way blessing.

Love,
Camille